SERCUL Annual Report 2017-18 CONTENTS

Welcome 3

From the Chair–Pat Hart 4

From the CEO–Amy Krupa 5

SERCUL Staff and Committee 6

Achievements and Highlights 2017–18 7

Our Constitution 8

Our Projects 9

Environmental Education 10-13

Community Capacity 14-21

Landcare and Restoration 22-30

Monitoring and Research 31-33

Environmental Services 34

Auditor’s Report 35

2017-18 Financial Overview 36-37

Financial Report 38-40

Balance Sheet 38-39

Profit and Loss 40

Statement by the Management Committee 41

New Projects for 2018–19 42-43

Acknowledgement of Partnerships 44

Thank You 45

2 Welcome

Welcome to the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare’s (SERCUL) 2017-18 Annual Report to our stakeholders and community. SERCUL is the sub-regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisation that operates within the metropolitan and peri-urban areas of the Canning River Catchment. As part of the community we work with State and Federal Government agencies, Local Governments, businesses and volunteers to care for the environment and our local communities. This is done in many ways; working to improve biodiversity, protecting riverine environments, working with turf managers to sustainably improve turf best management practices, and engaging with our extensive community network to increase knowledge and skills in environmental management. We are extremely proud of this year’s achievements, which we have undertaken in partnership with the community and a range of other important project partners and stakeholders. Through these partnerships we have been working together to improve the health of our land and waterways.

3 Executive Messages From the Chair - Pat Hart

It is difficult to know where to begin to write this annual report. Of the 16 years that I have been Chairperson of SERCUL, I have found this year to be the most difficult. The sad demise of the Swan River Trust following its merger into the then Department of Parks and Wildlife in July 2015, reached another low point in the past 12 months when it became just a branch of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). The destruction of this once respected, specialist organisation has seen many fine staff with strong community connections leave or transfer to other parts of the Department. The abolition of the Swan River Trust has, in my opinion, been to the detriment of the Swan Canning system and reflected a decline in its importance for the State Government. The official rhetoric that this river system is highly valued and a State ‘icon’ is belied by the reduced State Government funding and staffing for its repair and management. This has necessitated other organisations, community groups and local government having to take on roles that should be undertaken by State Government because the work is critical for the rivers’ ongoing health and management. I can only hope that the State Government’s financial commitment to our Swan and Canning River system will return to the level that it so rightly deserves now that the State financial outlook appears to be looking positive. While SERCUL has for years received some core funding, it has not been sufficient to support all the varied roles we undertake in our sub-region. This funding deficiency now requires SERCUL to run its Environmental Services Unit as a small, not-for-profit business with its income critical for SERCUL’s financial sustainability. Over the next 12 months we need to make some major decisions about the future of SERCUL; in essence whether we can afford to deliver all the Objectives of our Constitution without taking on unacceptably high business risks. I joined SERCUL as a volunteer to assist in furthering the health of our environment, not to also manage a small business. I would like to thank those staff of the DBCA Rivers and Estuaries Branch with whom we work closely for their ongoing support; all the local governments in our sub-region for their support and commitment to their environmental responsibilities, particularly to our waterways. To Perth NRM for their support and all other agencies and organisations that we have worked with over the year – thank you. Thank you to Amy Krupa our CEO who has recently taken on that role and thank you to my Executive Committee for their time, in particular my deputy Stephen Johnston who has been of great assistance and whose support I greatly appreciate. I would finally like to thank most sincerely SERCUL’s amazing staff who go above and beyond their roles to further SERCUL’s objectives. Such is their commitment that many of them have volunteered to reduce their working hours to help balance our budget.

Pat Hart Chairperson

4 Executive Messages From the CEO - Amy Krupa

The 2017-18 financial year has been challenging for the SERCUL Executive Committee and staff on a number of fronts. During the 2017-18 financial year some major staffing changes occurred at SERCUL which has shaped how we go about our business. Brett Kuhlmann, our previous CEO, resigned in November 2017 due to family reasons and Glen Byleveld, General Manager and Julie Robert, Special Projects Manager left the organisation around the same period to take up other opportunities. The loss of these three highly experienced managers was felt by the staff but this also provided an opportunity for staff members to step up and take on more responsibility in their areas which they did accordingly. This financial year also saw us implement a new accounting and payroll system and a complete overhaul of our Chart of Accounts. This was not an easy process that took many, many months to get right and I would like to say a big thank you to our Finance team of Monica Estrada, Jose Alcala and Farina Gandadjaja for all the hours they worked on this and their commitment to ensuring it was implemented correctly. This new accounting system and how we manage our income and expenses in the system showed us that we were not in the stable financial position that we thought we were in as is indicated in the Profit and Loss statement that is part of this annual report. This has led us to thoroughly review our overhead administrative costs to reduce them where possible, to some staff voluntarily reducing their hours to help save money in our largest expenses area, wages, and for our Environmental Services Unit to attract more fee for service work through tenders and requests for quote. To the staff that have volunteered to reduce their hours to help with our budget a huge thank you for your passion and commitment to keeping SERCUL financially viable. Matt Grimbly and Dan Friesen have also stepped up to the challenge of attracting more fee for service work for our Environmental Services Unit and for applying for major grants through our landcare program. After many sleepless nights and a lot of work by the Executive Committee and senior staff we are now heading in the right direction. Amazon frogbit, an aquatic weed, was also a priority during this financial year. Increased outbreaks of this weed occurred throughout the SERCUL region, and further afield around Perth, resulting in SERCUL hosting a stakeholder forum in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in June 2018 to have this weed declared as a pest organism. Amazon frogbit has recently been gazetted as a declared species under section 22(2) - no Control Category for the whole of the State. SERCUL were hoping that Amazon frogbit would be declared as a C3 - management category but as none of the State Government agencies were willing to take on the compliance of this level the no Control Category was the only option. We are heartened though that Amazon frogbit is now a declared species and we will be working over the coming years to implement an Amazon frogbit management, education and research project to highlight the impact of this threatening aquatic weed. Finally, I would like to say thank you to our Executive Committee for putting your faith in me to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer. While my first few months in this position have certainly not been easy, I have enjoyed the challenge and also greatly appreciate the unwavering support from the SERCUL staff.

Amy Krupa Chief Executive Officer

5 Staff and Committee

Staff Employed During 2017–18 Jose Alcala – HR Payroll and Administration Officer Executive Committee Daniel Barczi – Landcare Officer, ESU Chair: Pat Hart *Anneliese Bone – Landcare Officer, ESU (Oct 17) Deputy Chair: Stephen Johnston Natasha Bowden – Environmental Education Officer/ Education and Promotion Manager Treasurer: Max Houghton *Glen Byleveld – General Manager (Nov 17) Member: Marc Lane Caitlin Conway – Water Quality Officer/Volunteer Member: Kobi Bradshaw-Chen Coordinator Member: Marie Taylor Megan Crotty – Landcare Officer, ESU Monica Estrada – Business and Finance Manager Erin Farley – Environmental Education Officer Dan Friesen – Community and Grants Manager Farina Gandadjaja – Administration and Financial Assistant Matthew Grimbly – Environmental Services Unit Manager Amy Krupa – Education and Promotion Manager/Chief Executive Officer *Brett Kuhlmann – Chief Executive Officer (Nov 17) *Noratiah Larry – Work for the Dole Supervisor (Jan 18) John Maliunas – Landcare Officer and Precinct Manager Daniel Millea – Landcare and DNIP Officer *Catherine Morgan – Landcare Officer, ESU (Apr 18) Darren O’Brien – Landcare Officer, ESU Tarnisha Ogilvie – Booyi Program Coordinator Wilson Orjuela – Landcare Officer, ESU and OHS Officer Andy Owen – Landcare Officer, ESU *Tony Parrelli – Landcare Officer, ESU (Nov 17) Saw Ta Pweh – Landcare Officer, ESU *Jakub Pyrchla – Work for the Dole Supervisor (Feb 18) *Julie Robert – Special Projects Manager (Dec 17) Melinda Snowball – Promotions and Graphic Design Officer/Volunteer Coordinator Lat Too – Landcare Officer, ESU Russell Walczak – Work for the Dole Supervisor/ Landcare Officer, ESU Dr Rose Weerasinghe – Ecologist Cat Williams – Community Liaison/Landcare Officer (City of Canning) and BCCG Coordinator

New Staff (2018) Isabella Streckhardt – Work for the Dole Supervisor Timothy Frodsham – Landcare Officer, ESU Alexei McKay-Koodravsev – Landcare Officer, ESU

LGSWA STAFF: Kylie Hosking – Little Green Steps WA Education Officer Megan Mentz – Little Green Steps WA Program Manager

*No longer working - left the organisation during the 2017-2018 financial year ESU - Environmental Services Unit

6 Achievements and Highlights

17 185 Hours of volunteer contribution

$558 792 Total value of volunteering $

167 486 Plants installed

18 852 People received education, via direct information or on-ground contact

We held our annual volunteer breakfast in March 2018 and were lucky enough to have 53 Minister for Environment, Stephen Dawson Community on-ground MLC join us. Minister Dawson helped us present restoration work days wheelbarrows and shovels to community groups who entered a competition that was run in conjunction with the breakfast. The groups provided stories and photos of their project sites and achievements that were then used 67 to promote the groups through the SERCUL Schools engaged in Facebook page. on-ground activities and environmental education

37 Friends of Groups engaged

89 Waterway sample sites The Kaalitj-ngort Koondaam - Dragonfly Dreaming (Brentwood Living Stream) Project was officially launched in April 2018. SERCUL implemented this project over the last two years in partnership with a number of stakeholders 612 including the Department of Biodiversity, Samples collected in the Conservation and Attractions; Yelakatj Moort Noongar Association and the City of Melville. Perth Region The site has now been officially handed over to the City of Melville to manage.

Value of volunteering $33.71/hr (From Volunteering WA and the Department of Local Government and Communities)

7 Our Constitution

SERCUL, as an incorporated, independent Objectives community environmental organisation, are a. To identify priority Natural Resource able to bring together the community, State Management issues in the South Region in and Federal Government agencies, Local partnership with Local Government, State Governments, businesses and educational Government and industry. institutions to plan for, develop and implement projects that will improve the b. To ensure biodiversity within the natural environment using a strategic and South Region is monitored, protected integrated approach. and enhanced. c. Assist community, State and Local SERCUL is a sub-regional organisation that Government in the coordination of Natural operates within the metropolitan and peri- Resource Management in the South Region. urban areas of the Canning River Catchment. The area covered takes in most of the d. Support and encourage the implementation southern and eastern suburbs of Perth of best management practice of natural and includes Dyarguu (the Canning River), resources within the South Region. the Southern-Wungong River and parts of e. Recognise and embrace Aboriginal, cultural Derbarl Yaragan (the Swan River). and natural heritage.

f. Foster research on matters relating to the South Region’s natural and cultural heritage. Vision Work in partnership with Local Government, To have, as a given, the natural g. State Government and industry to educate resources of the South Region the wider community to protect our of Perth managed in a healthy natural resources. and sustainable manner by all stakeholders for future generations. h. Support and encourage the formation and training of community environment groups. Mission The aim is to use integrated i. Support the development and Natural Resource Management to implementation of projects that occur develop cultural change in how the outside the South Region that align with and benefit the delivery of the community views and interacts with SERCUL objectives. the environment while promoting and actively participating in the j. Administer the South East Regional Centre improvement of the health of for Urban Landcare Inc. funds to promote the waterways and other ecosystems objectives and outcomes of the Association. within the South Region.

8 Our Projects

Environmental Community Education Capacity • Phosphorus Awareness Project • Volunteer Program

• Bennett Brook Education Program • Community Group Support

• Fertilise Wise Fertiliser Training • Work for the Dole Program

• Mozzie Wise Program • Bannister Creek Catchment Group

• Booyi Cultural Program • Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group

• Little Green Steps WA

Landcare & Monitoring & Restoration Research • Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program • Water Quality Monitoring

• Canning River Restoration • Adenia Research Program

• Booragoon and Blue Gum Lakes • Horley Road Wetland – Biomonitoring

• Bull Creek Catchment Restoration

• Hydrocotyle Eradication Program

• Bowra & O’Dea and Trillion Trees Memorial Groves Project

• Horley Road Wetland Rehabilitation

• Wetlands to Waves Habitat Corridor N • Woodman Point Restoration Swan Victoria Belmont Park Kalamunda • Yagan Reserve Restoration South Perth

East Fremantle Melville Canning Fremantle Gosnells

Armadale Cockburn Canning River

Kwinana Serpentine-Jarrahdale

Wandering

Rockingham

The South Region is defined as consisting of those parts of the Cities of Armadale, Belmont, Canning, Cockburn, Fremantle, Gosnells, Kwinana, Melville, Rockingham, South Perth, Shire of Kalamunda and Towns of East Fremantle and Victoria Park which fall within the boundary of the Swan Natural Resource Management Region.

9 Environmental EDUCATION

Phosphorus Awareness Project ALGAE BUSTER Coordinated by Amy Krupa and Natasha Bowden

Project partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service.

Project Overview: The Phosphorus Awareness Project is an education PHOSPHORUS campaign that aims to educate the general community about the impact of too AWARENESS many nutrients in the Swan and Canning River systems and wetlands, and how PROJECT to reduce those levels. Project outcomes: • 14 displays at the Perth Garden Festival, Frontiers of Science Community Expo and other community festivals, speaking with more than 7350 people. Six volunteers representing SERCUL at these displays for a total of 42.5 hours. • 234 school presentations to 6460 students from Kindy to Year 12. • 20 planting sessions of 2160 plants were planted by 640 school students equating to more than 570 volunteer hours. • 17 community presentations to 310 people. • 2018 LGA Annual Nutrient Survey sent to Local Governments in May. Received 21 responses and report in currently being written. • Supported groups with project resources on 34 occasions. • Hosted Canoeing on the Canning with 15 teachers and community members attending this professional development workshop. • On the organising committee of Catchments, Corridors and Coasts and presented at this three-day course attended by 20 participants. • Over 2166 of the five Fertilise Wise Project brochures distributed at events and to nurseries and community groups. • Over 1785 of the five Grow Local Plants brochures distributed at events and to nurseries and community groups. • Over 14 685 Phosphorus Awareness Project Top: Canoeing on the Canning; Middle: Catchments, Corrdiors and Coasts; Bottom: brochures, stickers and other resources distributed. Planting session with school students. • The Phosphorus Awareness Project has been in media articles on 10 occasions this year, including in the newspaper, newsletters and a blog. 2160 Plants installed • Four Education Newsletters are distributed each 646 volunteers year to approximately 300 schools and teachers. 620.5 Volunteer hours Funded By: Department of Biodiversity, Value = $9983 Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service.

10 Environmental EDUCATION Bennett Brook Education Project ALGAE BUSTER Coordinated by Amy Krupa and Natasha Bowden

Project partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service. Project Overview: This project is an extension of the Phosphorus Awareness Project into the Bennett Brook/Saint Leonards Creek Catchment. Over the PHOSPHORUS project residents and students in the catchment will be educated about AWARENESS protecting the waterways using the existing Fertilise Wise and Freshwater Fauna PROJECT education programs. Project outcomes: • 44 school presentations to 1315 students from Kindy to Year 12. • Two community presentations to 45 people. • One Fertilise Wise Fertiliser Training session with 18 turf managers trained from three organisations. • Brochure distribution – over 1890 Phosphorus Awareness Project resources distributed including Fertilise Wise and Grow Local Plant brochures. • Freshwater Fauna Teacher Packs - 37 primary and seven secondary packs have been given to schools in the area.

Funded By: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service. School students identifying macroinvertebrates

Fertilise Wise Fertiliser Training Coordinated by Amy Krupa and Natasha Bowden

Project partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service; South Metropolitan TAFE. Project overview: This project aims to train school gardeners, turf managers and Local Government officers in fertiliser best management practices, specific to Perth. The training is organised by SERCUL and delivered by John Forrest, a lecturer in turf management at South Metropolitan TAFE, Murdoch.

Project outcomes: • Three training sessions held with 41 turf managers trained from 18 organisations including public and private schools, Local Governments, universities, golf clubs, country clubs and turf contractors. • Partnership with the Water Corporation to provide this training for school gardeners. • One display at the Parks and Leisure WA Conference with 100 people spoken to.

Funded By: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service. Participants testing soil at a Fertilise Wise Fertiliser Training session

11 Environmental EDUCATION Mozzie Wise Program Coordinated by Dr Rose Weerasinghe, Amy Krupa and Natasha Bowden

Program partners: East Swan River Contiguous Local Authority Group (ESR CLAG) – Towns of Bassendean and Victoria Park and Cities of Bayswater, Belmont and Swan and Department of Health. Program Overview: The aim of the program is to educate local communities and school children on all aspects of mosquito breeding prevention and personal protection. Informed communities that act upon their knowledge play a critical role in preventing mosquito borne-diseases, providing mosquito control and reducing the use of chemicals. The Mozzie Wise School Education Program is linked to the relevant Science Learning Area of the Australian Curriculum and provides Teacher’s Guides for Kindy to Year 10. Program outcomes: • Presented 34 Being Mozzie Wise incursions to 877 students. • Conducted three Mozzie Wise Education Workshops at Biology, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES) day. • Mozzie Wise presentation at WA Local Government Association (WALGA) Forum in Collie. • Mozzie Wise educational activity stall at the Community Science Expo. • A Mozzie Wise Community awareness display and 102 surveys were conducted at the Autumn River Festival, City of Bayswater. • Two community awareness sessions including presentations and activities. Funded by: ESR CLAG, CLAG – City of Canning and the Department of Health. Mozzie Wise display at the Science Expo

Booyi Cultural Program Cultural Program Coordinated by Tarnisha Ogilvie Booyi Program partners: Yelakitj Moort Noongar Association. Program Overview: The Booyi Cultural Program aims to 18 Incursions deliver an interactive educational program that teaches the Excursion understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres 1 Strait Islander histories and cultures and to engage people to 1818 Participants see the land around them through the eyes of the Noongar people. In understanding this vision and appreciation, people 4 Early Learning are encouraged to value our rivers, wetlands and Centres natural areas. Primary Program outcomes: This year the program has presented 13 to a total of 1818 participants ranging from students at Early Schools Learning Centres to High School teachers. 2 High Schools Funded by: State NRM Program.

12 Environmental EDUCATION Little Green Steps WA Program Coordinated by Megan Mentz and Kylie Hosking s p Program PARTNERS: Cities of Armadale, Canning and Cockburn and the e Waste Authority. t s n Program overview: Little Green Steps WA (LGSWA) supports Education for e re Sustainability (EfS) in the early years sector. This includes childcare centres, family le g day care, primary schools, preschools, kindergartens, and out of school hours care li services for children aged 0-8 years. LGSWA provides professional development workshops, resources, newsletters, ideas and networking opportunities to anyone that would like to improve their understanding of sustainability and link these practices with the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standard. LGSWA has partnered with the Cities of Armadale, Canning and Cockburn and the Waste Authority this year. Each partnership entails an LGSWA staff member focusing specifically in two local government areas for the equivalent of one day a week, the City of Armadale for half a day a week and the Waste Authority for half a day per week. LGSWA is a program of the Australian Association for Environmental Education WA Chapter with HR management provided by SERCUL. Program Outcomes: • Continued an 18 month partnership with Waste Wise Schools 14 workshops/ • Began a three year grant program with the City of Armadale. Events • Continued a two year partnership with the City of Cockburn. 270 people • Continued a two year partnership with the City of Canning. who attended • Delivered four 2018 Reducing Waste workshops across Perth workshops and Albany. • Delivered two extra Sustainability Workshops in Perth. 1100 people on newsletter • Delivered two NEW ‘Energy, Air and Transport’ workshops and improved ‘Conserving and Protecting Water’ workshop. mailing list • Continued the development of two Sustainability Directories for 7 volunteers Early Years Educators in the Cities of Canning and Cockburn. • Facilitated two Sustainable Schools WA network meetings for 360 volunteer Early Years educators in the City of Canning. hours • Provided two Sustainability planning sessions for member early Value = $12 136 years services. • Attended five community events in this period; WASEF Expo Dec 2017; Catchments, Corridors and Coasts Expo Jan 2018; STEM in Early Years Conference and Expo Feb 2018; Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Cockburn and Harmony Day for Communicare in Canning. Funded by: Cities of Armadale, Canning and Cockburn and the Waste Authority.

13 Community Capacity Volunteer Program Coordinated by Melinda Snowball and Caitlin Conway SERCUL Volunteers: Program Partners: Department of 81 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service. 1387 VOLUNTEER HOURS Program Overview: SERCUL’s volunteer 10 CORPORATE/LARGE GROUP management program allows volunteers to VOLUNTEERING DAYS learn, gain experience and give back to the community whilst contributing valuable on- 395 VOLUNTEER HOURS ground and administrative work. In 2017-18, the program has accommodated numerous corporate A special mention to our volunteering groups, regular volunteering groups regular volunteers: and individual volunteers who have all helped Doug Murphy – 170 hours SERCUL enormously. Based on their skill set and interests, these volunteers have assisted with work Tina Thorne – 142 hours both at SERCUL and on-ground at SERCUL’s Emily Rankin – 112 hours many project sites. SERCUL would like to thank all Bentley Health Unit – including the volunteers for their continued dedication and Nathan, Shane, Robert, Lance, Les support to our organisation. and Karen – total 301 hours Funded by: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Value = $40 317 Service and SERCUL.

Top left: Corporate Group, LINK, planting sedges along the Canning River; Top right: Our long standing volunteer Emily helping to plant; Bottom left: Information stall at the Riverton Library to attract more volunteers, Bottom right: Izzy, our Work for the Dole Supervisor, and volunteer Cirilo from ECU.

14 Community Capacity Community Group Support Coordinated by Monica Estrada, Jose Alcala, Other ways SERCUL provides assistance to Dan Friesen and Melinda Snowball community groups: • grant writing; Program Overview: Assisting and • grant support and management; supporting community groups is a large • access to volunteer labour; focus for SERCUL where we build capacity • access to equipment; of volunteer groups to deliver on ground • developing volunteer work plans; environmental outcomes. As the range of • hosting community events; groups SERCUL engages is incredibly diverse • technical advice and support; we adapt our assistance to suit their needs • plant ID; providing support in a variety of ways. • weed control techniques; SERCUL, through Austcover (the provider • educational opportunities; of the Community Environment Insurance • training workshops; Program), provides Public Liability Insurance • insurances and; to six ‘Friends of’ SERCUL member groups, to • administration services. enable them to continue to operate on public Funded by: SERCUL and Department of land. Each group holds an independent policy Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions coordinated by SERCUL. Parks and Wildlife Service SERCUL supports nine community groups in the region by hosting web pages on the 37 COMMUNITY GROUPS SERCUL website. Community group events and work days are also advertised on the ASSISTED SERCUL website on the Events Calendar, 11 AUSPICED GRANTS on the SERCUL Facebook page and in SUPPORTING 6 COMMUNITY SERCUL newsletters. LANDCARE GROUPS SERCUL continues to provide financial management and/or payroll assistance to 6 COMMUNITY GROUPS the following Community Groups: PROVIDED PUBLIC LIABILITY • Bannister Creek Catchment Group INSURANCE • Wilson Wetlands Action Group • Canning River Regional Park Volunteers HOST 9 WEB PAGES FOR • Friends of Queens Park Bushland COMMUNITY GROUPS • Australian Association for Environmental Education WA Chapter HOSTED 24 Community PLANTING EVENTS SERCUL auspiced grants for the following 7 corporate Events groups: • Friends of Paganoni Swamp • Friends of Wireless Hill • Friends of the Spectacles • Friends of Fremantle Beaches • Murdoch Environmental Restoration Group • Befriending the Neighbourhood Owl • Friends of Forrestdale

Environment Minister, Stephen Dawson at the volunteer breakfast helping present awards to community groups

15 Community Capacity Work for the Dole Program Coordinated by Dan Friesen, Jay Pyrchla, Russell Walczak and Nora Larry

Program Overview: SERCUL has continued to implement Work for the Dole programs through the job service provider atWork Australia. This program enables us to assist community groups by supporting their activities with in-kind labour through activities such as planting, weed control, woody weed removal, erosion control, fire track maintenance, fencing and rubbish removal. This service is provided free of charge and has been a valuable resource in assisting groups to improve their outcomes and tackle tasks that would otherwise be daunting for volunteers to accomplish. Over the 2017-18 year SERCUL hosted a total of five programs each running for a six month period. Each program ran two days a week and mobilised up to 11 participants to project sites across the south east metropolitan area.

Funded by: atWork Australia and the Australian Government.

Rockingham program: This program focussed on restoring and rehabilitating coastal reserves and 5065 Plants Installed regional parks between Rockingham and Fremantle. Participants completed conservation activities and 38 Ha Weed Management worked with a range of stakeholders to deliver 150 M FENCING INSTALLED environmental outcomes. 100 M Track MAINTENANCE Program Partners: Friends of the Spectacles, Friends of Paganoni Swamp, Coastcare NRM, City 1155 Total of Rockingham and Department of Biodiversity, Participant hours Conservation and Attractions.

Spearwood program: This program focussed on coastal reserves and regional parks within the 6420 Plants Installed Spearwood area and surrounds. Participants restored and rehabilitated nature reserves and worked in 7 Ha Weed Management conjunction with a range of stakeholders. 150 M2 Erosion Control Program Partners: Friends of Fremantle Beaches, 200 M Track MAINTENANCE Friends of Hollis Park, Friends of Rossmoyne Park, Friends of Cantonment Hill, Murdoch University, 2502 Total Coastcare NRM, City of Fremantle and Department of Participant hours Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Dune rehabilitation being undertaken by the Spearwood Work for the Dole participants

16 Community Capacity Work for the Dole Program

Upper Canning Program: This program provided 10 000 Plants Installed on ground environmental rehabilitation for many sites along the Canning River, Roley Pools, urban drain .26 Ha Weed Management networks, Mary Carroll Park and other urban bushland sites across the Cities of Armadale and Gosnells. 30 M Fencing 2 KM Track MAINTENANCE Program Partners: Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group, Friends of Mary Carroll Wetland, Friends of 2490 Total Forrestdale, Friends of Roley Pools, City of Armadale, Participant hours City of Gosnells.

Sedge planting by the Upper Canning Program participants

Canning Community Landcare: This program implemented urban bushland/wetland revegetation 24 850 Plants Installed activities across the South East Region of Perth. Participants undertook weed control, planting, erosion 10.5 Ha Weed control, feral tree removal and brush cutting. Management Program Partners: Friends of Booragoon and Blue 75 M2 Erosion Control Gum Lakes, Friends of Bull Creek Catchment, Bannister Creek Catchment Group, Friends of Brolga Lake, City of 2040 Total Canning, City of Armadale, Bickley Brook Camp and the Participant hours Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Construction Program: This programs primary project was improving access to the SERCUL homestead with the construction and installation of a new wheelchair ramp to the SERCUL entrance. Picnic tables and park benches were also built and supplied to Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp, our neighbours the Gosnells Emergency Operations Centre as well as our own homestead and the Beckenham Open Space.

SERCUL’s new disability ramp built by the Construction Program participants

17 Community Capacity Bannister Creek Catchment Group Habitat Enhancement of Bushlands within Bannister Creek Catchment Coordinated by Cat Williams

Project Partners: SERCUL and City of Canning. Project Overview: The two main activities in this project are to maintain weed control and 10 922 Plants Installed perform infill planting across four hectares of catchment bushlands; Vellgrove Eco-Corridor 4 Ha Weed Management and Bannister Creek – Bywood. Bannister Creek 194 Volunteers - Bywood is the site of the Living Stream 1 and 2 projects which were initiated in the late 1990s. 527.75 Volunteer Hours BCCG has been a grateful recipient of SALP funding Value = $15 638 for all 20 years of the program. Schools: Leeming SHS, The aim of the infill planting is to introduce typical yet absent or under-represented species to the Lynwood SHS, Cannington bushland and build resilience through strong edges. Community College The BCCG is also collecting seed from the area and Key Event conducting some small direct seeding trials. The Bannister Creek Primary School BCCG continues to receive strong engagement from Schools Tree Day: students of Bannister Creek Primary School. 126 students installed Funded by: Perth NRM and the Swan Alcoa 1075 plants into floodplain Landcare Program.

Photos by ALCOA. Top left and right: SALP 2018 planting event at Bannister Creek, Bywood Way – Cat and ALCOA volunteers, Bottom: The new Bywood Way footbridge, Bannister Creek.

18 Community Capacity Bannister Creek Catchment Group Bannister Creek Weed Control and Understorey Development Coordinated by Cat Williams

Project Partners: SERCUL and City of Canning. Project Overview: This project is centred on the Bannister Creek Reserve across an area totalling 14 151 Plants Installed 4.8ha. This portion of the reserve contains the former Urban Waterways Renewal and Final Living Stream 4.8 Ha Weed Management projects. Activity will focus on infill planting supported 276 Volunteers by two rounds of chemical weed control. There is also a dedicated amount of funding for the reduction of 800.6 Volunteer Hours Typha orientalis through the creek. Where possible Value = $24 528 Typha will be replaced with pockets of Baumea articulata so that important habitat is not lost. Schools: Leeming SHS, Lynwood SHS, Cannington The BCCG successfully sought funds for the design and print of a brochure for the Bannister Creek Community College Reserve, which will be launched with a plant giveaway Key Event later in 2018. The brochure will contain information National Tree Day – about plants and problem weed species. It will also 83 Volunteers installed over fold out to show a map with sites of significance in plants into Bannister the life of the landcare projects at Bannister Creek 3000 connected as a 4km walk trail. Creek Reserve

Other Activities Groups Supported: Jandakot Regional Park Volunteers, Canning River Regional Park Volunteers, Friends of Queens Park Bushland and Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands. 3218 Plants Installed (outside Bannister Creek Catchment) Places: Canning River Regional Park, Jandakot Regional Park, Clifton Reserve and Maniana Reserve. 466.5 Volunteer Hours from 273 individual volunteers at a value of $10 477.50 Key Events: • Joint Earth Day Activity with CRRPV for schools at CREEC – 119 students engaged from five different schools. • Plant Salvage at Portcullis Drive in Willetton with the City of Canning and support from CRRPV, Chevron, APACE and BCCG. Funded jointly through SALP and State NRM. We salvaged approximately 300 plants. 192 plants went into our Vellgrove site under the BCCG SALP grant. 105 plants went into the Bannister Creek Renville site under the State NRM grant. We have active growth from Stylidium, Desmocladus and Dasypogon which is really encouraging as they are not present in either bushland.

Plant salvage at Portcullis Drive in Willetton

19 Community Capacity Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group Coordinated by: Community Landcare Coordinator – Narelle Mewburn, Community Landcare Officer – Shane Hunter (resigned Feb 2018), Jen Francis and Nora Larry (Feb–Jun 2018).

Program Overview: Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group (AGLG) cares for the Upper Canning, Southern and Wungong Rivers and their tributaries. In the 2017-18 financial year AGLG undertook restoration works at 21 restoration sites, representative of bushlands and river foreshores, both within the City of Gosnells and the City of Armadale. The AGLG continues its goal of extending previous river foreshore restoration works along the Canning River with a vision of linking sites and creating a continuous habitat corridor. Program Outcomes: In 2017-18, AGLG was fortunate to continue work with some very dedicated friends groups and passionate members of the community. A new group ‘Friends of Astley River Park’ started work on their patch with support from the City of Gosnells and the Community Rivercare funding from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). A total of 21 community work days were held, mostly during the winter and spring months with our major plantings events being National Tree Day and Bushcare’s Major Day Out. AGLG also invite school groups and other community groups to participate in tree planting activities and during the 2017-18 financial year AGLG were joined by 16 different schools, including some outside of the catchment. The AGLG were involved in community events including a weed information workshop, the Kelmscott Show, the Spring into Armadale Festival, and Little Scribblers Harmony Week celebrations.

New Friends of Astley River Park logo Green Army group

During the 2017-18 winter/spring planting season AGLG planted a massive 101 183 seedlings, approximately 13 000 plants short of the previous two years. Due to staff changes in this financial year it was planned to cut back the planting numbers to ensure all facets of the organisations projects were not neglected. We were also pleased to have assistance one day a week from a Work for the Dole team and a half day a week from the Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre, this brought much needed extra hands along to our sites. The 2017-18 financial year also saw AGLG maintain a very successful Facebook page to continue reaching out and raising community awareness and participation in our landcare activities.

20 Community Capacity Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group Key achievements for AGLG in the past year were the completion of two of our restoration projects, the procurement of a brand new 4x4 vehicle under the Growing Stronger Communities Federal Government Grant, the adoption of four new sites, and the start-up of a new ‘Friends of’ Group. Sites completed and handed back to each of the Cities for management include the City of Armadale’s Fancote Park Stage 3 site, funded under the Australian Government’s 20 Million Tree section of the National Landcare Program and DBCA’s Riverbank Program. The second was at Sutherlands Park in the City of Gosnells under the 25th Anniversary Grants of the National Landcare Program. Three new sites for the AGLG in the City of Gosnells include the Fremantle Bridge site on the banks of the Southern River. This project is jointly funded under the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA’s) Riverbank Pro-active funding with contributions from the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) and the City of Gosnells. Another new site was the Comrie Road wetland, another funded under the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP), a conservation category wetland in the City of Gosnells. This project aimed to increase the buffer between main roads and the unique vegetation community remaining within the Southern River Complex, this project also activated the adjacent primary school in a planting and education day. Thirdly, the Astley River Park has been funded under Round 1 of the Community Rivercare Program to undertake planting and weed control until July 2020. As previously noted the Friends of Astley River Park are a newly formed group and look after the section of the Canning River between Cargeeg Bridge and Ferres Road Bridge. They have been actively collecting rubbish out of the river and undertaking plenty of hand weeding. They are passionate about their patch and prefer not to use herbicide in this section of the foreshore on the Canning River. This small group are a greatly welcomed asset to the City of Gosnells and to the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group. funded by: City of Armadale; City of Gosnells; Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme; Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; Swan Alcoa Landcare Program; State NRM Program and Perth NRM.

21 Restoration sites 21 Community work days 16 schools engaged 4 community events 101 183 plants installed 2248 volunteers 5849.5 volunteer hours Value = $250 170

21 Landcare & Restoration DNIP – Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program Coordinated by Daniel Millea 12 Volunteers

Program Partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation 90 Total and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service; City of Canning; City of hours Gosnells; Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Value = $3034 Water Corporation. Program Overview: SERCUL assists the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Services with coordinating and delivering monitoring and maintenance activities at Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program sites within the Cities of Canning and Gosnells. Project outcomes: Coordination of project partners, vegetation and water quality monitoring, planting and weed control. Active sites within this period include Wharf Street Wetland, Anvil Way Wetland, Liege Street Wetland and Bickley Basin. Freshwater mussel found in the Upper Canning Funded By: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Services. Canning River Restoration Coordinated by Russell Walczak

Project partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service and the City of Canning. Project Overview: The project encompasses two sites within the Canning River Regional Park in which the aim is to revegetate degraded areas while also completing weed control of priority species to protect and enhance existing remnant vegetation and also allow new revegetation areas to be established. Currently in its fifth year of management by SERCUL the project continues to see excellent results. Project Outcomes: • Planting event with Rehoboth Christian College and Earth 10 143 plants Day Pledge a Sedge planting day. Both events supported installed by Bannister Creek Catchment Group 138 volunteers • 12 hectares of weed control 100 volunteer • Implementation of vegetation monitoring plots to compare hours the outcomes of chemical versus weed control on the Samphire communities. Value = $3371 Funded By: State NRM Program

Planting event with Rehoboth Christian College

22 Landcare & Restoration Booragoon and Blue Gum Lakes Coordinated by Russell Walczak

Project partners: City of Melville, Friends of Booragoon and Blue Gum Lakes.

Project Overview: This project aims to enhance the habitat and biodiversity of the two reserves through revegetation and weed control working directly with the friends of Booragoon and Blue Gum Lakes. The focus this year shifted towards revegetating the transitional and dryland areas of the reserves.

Project Outcomes: • Hosting of four community planting events with the Friends of Booragoon Lake and Rossmoyne Senior High School. • Increased coordination and engagement efforts with City of Melville to more effectively manage the reserves in partnership.

Funded By: State NRM Program and Swan Alcoa Landcare Program.

28 086 plants installed

127 volunteers 381 volunteer hours

Value = $12 844

Friends of Booragoon and Blue Gum Lakes community planting day

23 Landcare & Restoration Bull Creek Reserve Restoration Coordinated by Dan Friesen

Project partners: Friends of Bull Creek Catchment, Rossmoyne Senior High School Bushrangers and the City of Melville.

Project Overview: Bull Creek Reserve is situated in the north-east of the City of Melville in the suburb of Bull Creek. It is part of Bush Forever Site 338, and is considered a high priority catchment under the Swan Canning Water Quality Improvement Plan. SERCUL began assisting the Friends of Bull Creek Catchment in 2012-13 to support them in achieving their vision to restore Bull Creek into a healthy catchment. In that time hectares of Blackberry, Lantana and Acacia longifolias have been cleared; hundreds of thousands of sedges have been planted; almost every weed you can imagine a modern urban drain can throw at you has been tackled and have engaged and educated numerous corporate groups, church groups, schools and scouts. From managing a few hundred square meters of creek line to now managing a huge six hectares, this has all been made possible by the enormous effort of the friends group committing thousands of volunteer hours of in-kind labour in planting, weeding, watering, survival rate studies, flora surveys, raising public awareness, community events, hosting politicians, aboriginal cultural events and even attracting international students to take interest in Bull Creek Reserve.

Project outcomes: • Strong community engagement with three community planting events, engagement of the Rossmoyne Senior High School Bushrangers and of Conservation Volunteers Aboriginal Unit • Managing over six hectares of Bull Creek Reserve • Attracted an additional $175 000 over two years through Perth NRM’s Swan Canning River Recovery Program to further expand the restoration site with an estimated 65,000 seedlings to be planted.

Funded by: State NRM Program and Swan Alcoa Landcare Program.

18 132 plants installed

191 volunteers 1669 volunteer hours

Value = $56 262

Before and after removal of blackberry investation and revegetation

24 Landcare & Restoration Hydrocotyle ranunculoides Eradication Program Coordinated by Matt Grimbly

Program partners: Perth NRM, Hydrocotyle Working Group (City of Canning; Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; Water Corporation; Wilson Wetlands Action Group).

Program Overview: Hydrocotyle ranunculoides has been a major problem in the Canning River and its tributaries since the early 1990’s, at times covering the Canning River from bank to bank upstream from Kent St Weir. This project is a continuation of the first round of the Swan Canning River Recovery Project which greatly reduced Hydrocotyle coverage and abundance. Now that Hydrocotyle levels have been reduced the goal is to completely eradicate it from the Canning River Catchment by project completion in June 2020. There is no mature Hydrocotyle remaining in the entire catchment and it is now germinating from seed only. It is expected that by the time of project completion in 2020 the seedbank will have been exhausted and Hydrocotyle will have been eradicated.

Project Outcomes: • 21 hectares of weed management of Hydrocotyle. • No mature Hydrocotyle remaining in the entire catchment.

Funded By: Perth NRM through the Swan Canning River Recovery Project.

Swan Canning River Recovery Project Hydrocotyle Survey - May 2018

Program: Hydrocotyle Scale: 1:5,000 Date drawn: 04/07/18 Project: Swan Canning River Recovery Original size: A3 Revision: 1 Hydrocotyle May 2018 Location: Canning River Regional Park Imagery from: 04/06/17 Drawn by: M.G <1m² hand removed Source: Nearmap Checked by: M.G $ 69 Horley Road Beckenham WA 6107 © This map must not be reproduced without the permission of SERCUL T: 08 9458 5664 F: 08 9458 5661 E: [email protected] W: wwwsercul.org.au File: J:\GIS\Data\EDIT\FLORA\EXOTIC\HYDROCOTYLE\Swan Canning River Recovery Project\pdf The extent of Hydrocotyle remaining in the Canning River Catchment

25 Landcare & Restoration Bowra & O’Dea and Trillion Trees Memorial Groves Project Coordinated by John Maliunas

Project Partners: Bowra & O’Dea, Trillion Trees and Western Australian Planning Commission. Project Overview: The Bowra & O’Dea and Trillion Trees Beckenham Memorial Park project commenced in 2008 with the goal to create Memorial Groves for the families of Bowra & O’Dea clients. Each Grove has approximately 4000 trees and native plants. This project will continue until 2021, with each established Memorial Grove being preserved for a minimum of 25 years. Project Outcomes: Hosted two major planting days, one with Sathaya Sai and the second with Bowra & O’Dea, 4080 Plants Installed Trillion Trees and Rotary, installing over 4000 seedlings and contributing nearly 700 volunteer hours. The memorial 122 Volunteers groves project has been extended for another three years 695 Total hours (2019-2021). Value = $23 428 Funded By: Bowra & O’Dea Funeral Directors

Top: 2017/2018 memorial grove. Bottom: Sathaya Sai group.

26 Landcare & Restoration Horley Road Wetland Rehabilitation Coordinated by Dr Rose Weerasinghe, Cat Williams and Anneliese Bone

Project Partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Project Overview: SERCUL has been working hard to rehabilitate the Conservation Category Horley Road Wetland, located adjacent to the SERCUL office. The wetland was previously dominated by exotic grasses (Paspalum distichum and Cynodon dactylon) and other weeds, which can prevent the germination of native wetland species, reduce macroinvertebrate habitat variety and provide pockets of stagnant water for mosquitoes and midges to breed. Comparison of previous and post-works monitoring data collected in the wetland will allow the effect of this rehabilitation on macroinvertebrates and water quality to be assessed. Project OUtcomes: During the wetland dry season, the grasses were controlled in a three stage process. Firstly chemical control was carried out by SERCUL staff and then a controlled burn was conducted by our neighbours Gosnells Volunteer Fire Service on an in-kind basis to assist with the removal of the thick mass of dead couch. Finally, earthworks were conducted to remove the remaining dead grass material with voluntary consultancy and supervision from wetland consultant Karl Karu. Natural regeneration of native species Bolboschoenus caldwellii (foreshore) and Eleocharis acuta (inundated area) was then able to occur in the bare sediment. Manual weed control and planting have also been conducted with help from the Bentley Health Unit, Murdoch University, corporate group volunteers and SERCUL staff seeing a total of 4231 plants installed.

Funded By: Healthy Wetland Habitats Grant from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

4231 Plants Installed 51 Volunteers 450.5 Total hours Value = $15 186

Left: SERCUL staff planting day at Horley Road Wetland, Middle: Karl Karu – voluntary supervison during Couch removal trial, Right: Control burn trial by Gosnells Volunteer Fire Service.

Horley Road wetland – after rehabilitation, drone photo by Rodney Wallington.

27 Landcare & Restoration Wetlands to Waves Habitat Corridor Coordinated by Dan Friesen

Project location: Pioneer Park, City of Cockburn.

Project partners: Cockburn Community Wildlife Corridor, City of Cockburn.

Project Overview: The Wetlands to Waves Habitat Corridor connects the Beeliar Wetland chain from Bibra Lake to the Indian Ocean. This project was specifically looking at restoring a section of degraded bush in City of Cockburn managed Pioneer Park adjacent to Bibra Lake and the recently cleared land on the Roe 8 footprint. This project was initiated in order to support the recently activated community enabling them to engage in restoration activities and provide them with guidance, workshops and training opportunities in order to enhance their efforts in restoring what is one of very few East-West habitat corridors in the Perth Metropolitan Region.

Project Outcomes: Hosted a community planting event for the Cockburn Community Wildlife Corridor in the Beeliar Regional Park in Bibra Lake.

Funded by: State NRM Program.

3000 plants installed

.4 ha Weed control

50 volunteers

150 volunteer hours

Value = $5057

Before and after revegetation at Beeliar Regional Park

28 Landcare & Restoration Woodman Point Restoration Coordinated by Dan Friesen

Project location: Woodman Point, Coogee

Project partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Project Overview: Woodman Point Regional Park is a 252 ha reserve situated 9 km south of Fremantle and contains a wide variety of ecosystems from shrublands, heath and scrub to Quindalup woodlands. It includes Tuart and Rottnest tea tree communities both of which have seen considerable decline due to the increased pressures of urbanisation on our coastal regions. This project specifically addressed a .8 hectare section of a degraded primary dune system providing brushing and restoring native habitat in order to improve the reserves overall resilience and decrease the impact of coastal erosion by providing dune stabilisation works.

Project Outcomes: Installation of 14 549 native seedlings and bagged along with 1.5 hectares of dune stabilisation.

Funded by: State NRM Program.

14 549 plants installed

1.5 ha Weed control

892.5 volunteer hours

Value = $30 086

Dune revegetation at Woodman Point

29 Landcare & Restoration Yagan Reserve Restoration Coordinated by Dan Friesen

Project location: Yagan Reserve, City of Canning

Project partners: Canning River Residents Environment Protection Association (CRREPA), City of Canning.

Project Overview: Yagan Reserve forms part of the Bush Forever site 338 and forms a habitat corridor connecting the Canning River with the Bull Creek Reserve. With remarkably intact and weed free sections along the foreshore and native canopy across the site the reserve suffers from a largely degraded understory and in particular along Bull Creek which traverses the site before entering the Canning River. This project is the first stage of a long term vision to enhance the understory, increasing its ecological functions by restoring natural habitat values and contributing to improving water quality of the Bull Creek Catchment prior to it’s entry to the Canning River. Through a staged approach this project is controlling woody weeds such as Japanese peppers, blackberry, lantana and Acacia longifolia in addition to managing the weedy understory replacing it with native sedges and midstory.

Project Outcomes: Hosted a community planting event with CRREPA and two school excursions with 80 students from Mercy College and Ardross Primary School.

Funded by: State NRM Program.

8479 plants installed

1.5 ha Weed control

91 volunteers

560 volunteer hours

Value = $18 878 + 4,500 Native sedges donated by Bruce Ivers

Planting day with CRREPA at Yagan Reserve

30 Monitoring & Research Water Quality Monitoring Coordinated by Caitlin Conway

Program Overview: SERCUL works Project Outcomes: with multiple state and local government DWER/LGA Water Quality Partnership authorities to conduct water quality Programs: monitoring programs, providing data used to Three programs implemented: improve wetlands and waterways throughout • Bennett Brook catchment (City of Swan, the Perth region. By working closely with City of Bayswater and Whiteman Park the Department of Water and Environmental (WAPC/DoPLH)); Regulation (DWER), SERCUL produces • City of South Perth catchments (City of accurate, reliable data based on best practice South Perth); sampling and data management procedures. • Melville Bull Creek catchment and Melville For each program, SERCUL assists Lakes (City of Melville). stakeholders to assess their water quality Independent water quality monitoring data requirements; prepares a sampling and programs for LGAs: analysis plan (SAP); undertakes the sampling, Two programs implemented: collates and analyses the data and produces • Cygnia Cove estate (City of South Perth); a report highlighting important findings and • Lake Claremont (Town of Claremont). providing recommendations. Water Corporation drainage sampling: SERCUL manages Water Quality Partnership • Conducted logging of water Programs within several key catchments of the physicochemical parameters at ten Swan-Canning river system. These projects, sites on fifteen sampling occasions with which are supported by DWER; relevant local assistance from Water Corporation. government authorities; the Department Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program: of Planning, Lands and Heritage/Western • Assisted DWER with water (monthly Australian Planning Commission (Whiteman basis), sediment and macrophyte Park) and the Department of Biodiversity, (quarterly basis) monitoring at three DNIP Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), have projects: Anvil Way Compensation Basin, promoted a cooperative approach to water Liege Street Wetland and Wharf Street quality monitoring. Data generated by these Constructed Wetland. programs is entered into DWER’s Water Funded by: Cities of South Perth, Bayswater, Information (WIN) database and has been Swan and Melville; Town of Claremont; used by DBCA Rivers and Estuaries Branch to Whiteman Park (WAPC); Department of implement local Water Quality Improvement Water and Environmental Regulation; Water Plans. SERCUL also runs independent Corporation; Department of Biodiversity, water quality monitoring programs for local Conservation and Attractions, Rivers and governments in areas where water quality is of Estuaries Division. particular local interest. In 2018, SERCUL also worked with the DWER Pollution Response Unit and the Water 9 projects Corporation to monitor water quality in a 44 Sampling events Water Corporation drain in a portion of a catchment known to have pollution issues. 89 Sample sites Furthermore, SERCUL has provided assistance 523 Water samples collected to DWER to sample water, sediment and 41 Sediment samples collected macrophytes for three projects established as part of the Drainage Nutrient Intervention 48 Macrophyte samples Program (DNIP). DNIP is funded through collected DBCA Rivers and Estuaries Branch as part of Value = $226 200 the Healthy Catchments Program, which aims to reduce nutrients entering the Swan and Canning Rivers from their catchments.

31 Monitoring & Research Adenia Research Project Habitat rehabilitation and saltmarsh mosquito management in the Canning River Regional Park tidal flats

Coordinated by Dr Rose Weerasinghe and Caitlin Conway

Project Partners: SERCUL, Curtin University and City of Canning. Project Overview: The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration of tidal influx to improve vector mosquito control and ecosystem function in an area of saltmarsh in the unique Canning River Regional Park (CRRP) tidal flats. Restoration of tidal influx has been demonstrated internationally to effectively control mosquitoes through a combination of flushing, increased predation and reduced oviposition and could also greatly improve the coverage of native samphire communities, macroinvertebrates, other fauna and ecology of the salt marsh ecosystem. As such, this project has the potential to provide both human health and environmental benefits. Two degraded saltmarsh areas close to the Adenia Lagoon, identified to support high levels of mosquito breeding, were selected as trial sites. The first phase of the project was to establish the existing ecological condition of the saltmarsh sites. This involved monitoring of mosquito breeding activity, presence of other macroinvertebrates, groundwater quality and vegetation surveys. Weed control was also conducted at the sites at this stage, primarily to control weedy saltwater couch growth. The second phase of the project is to conduct structural changes to re- establish tidal influx to the saltmarsh. Finally, post works monitoring will be conducted to allow the effectiveness of this form of integrated habitat management to be assessed as a long term source reduction approach to control mosquitoes in the CRRP. Project Outcomes: • Completed all State NRM funded weed control and management activities. • Continued baseline ecological and water quality monitoring. • Curtin University and North Metro TAFE students conducted monitoring of macroinvertebrates and water quality in both the pools and lagoon. • The City of Canning installed new culverts to reconnect tides between the upper and lower marsh areas at study sites. • Planned and received permission from Swan Canning Riverpark committee to do further minor structural changes to re-establish tidal influx to the saltmarsh. These works are planned for late 2018. funded by: Lotterywest and State NRM Program.

17 Volunteers 340 Total hours Value = $11 461 We appreciate the Curtin University student Sithira Randeniya (supervised by Dr Ranjan Sarukkalige) for contributing monitoring data to our project as part of his final year Civil Engineering Undergraduate project.

Left: Ground water monitoring at Adenia, Right: Samphire with flowers

32 Monitoring & Research Horley Road Wetland - Biomonitoring Coordinated by Dr Rose Weerasinghe and Caitlin Conway

Project Overview: Monitoring of the Conservation Category Horley Road Wetland has been conducted by SERCUL and volunteers on an in-kind basis since 2016. The Horley Road Wetland was selected for the study due to its ecological and sociological value within the Yule Brook system. The information obtained from this research can be used to assist wetland managers in managing wetland mosquito populations for human health and environmental purposes. Project Objectives: • To collect ecological data that will contribute to a better understanding of mosquito breeding in relation to other ecological factors in this system and similar systems; • To record ecological changes that may be occurring in the wetland as a result of wetland rehabilitation; • To provide an opportunity for University and TAFE students and community volunteers to participate and learn wetland rehabilitation, ecological monitoring and analysis.

Project OUtcomes: • Continued monitoring of mosquito larval counts, other macroinvertebrate populations, water quality physicochemical parameters in the wetland; • Bird and reptile surveys conducted at the wetland; • Post rehabilitation-monitoring of mosquito larvae and macroinvertebrates commenced with Murdoch University and South Metro TAFE students. funded by: SERCUL in-kind.

6 Volunteers 67 Volunteer hours Value = $2259

Top: Horley Road Wetland with new natural regeneration of Bolboschoenus. Bottom: Monitoring with University students

33 Environmental Services

Coordinated by Matt Grimbly, Dan Friesen, Natasha Bowden and Caitlin Conway

Environmental Services are undertaken on a fee for service basis. The specific intent of this delivery model is to generate income to support community groups in our region. It is recognised that in an ever tightening and diminishing funding environment there is limited external financial support provided to this area. Environmental Services undertaken by SERCUL are in the areas of Monitoring and Research, Education and Promotion and Landcare and Restoration. The majority of proceeds that are generated by the Environmental Services Unit come from Landcare and Restoration. This financial year has seen SERCUL deliver many weed control, bushland maintenance and revegetation projects for a wide range of clients. Work has included the control of weeds in sensitive remnant bushland, the successful control of serious aquatic weeds such as Amazon Frogbit, revegetation of river foreshore and bushland areas, manual control of large infestations of woody weeds and erosion control on the river foreshore.

Clients included: • Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group • DPIRD - Department of Primary Industries • Lynwood SHS and Regional Development • Bannister Creek Catchment Group • Friends of the Spectacles • City of Armadale • Friends of Wireless Hill • City of Canning • Main Roads • City of Cockburn • Murdoch University Environmental • City of Fremantle Restoration Group • City of Gosnells • PACT Construction • City of Nedlands • Swan Estuary Reserves Action Group • City of Perth • Town of Cambridge • City of Swan • Water Corporation

Wireless Hill Park Weed Management Coordinated by Daniel Millea CLIENT: Friends of Wireless Hill. Project Overview: This project commenced in 2009 with the Friends of Wireless Hill contracting SERCUL to undertake manual weed management in the Wireless Hill Park area. Work has involved the management of perennial veldt grass (Erhartia calycina) and other seasonal weeds such as Gladiolus caryophyllaceus in the sensitive wildflower walk areas where chemical weed control is not viable. With the Friends group successful in securing ongoing funding, weed management has been able to continue and excellent results over the past seven years have been achieved. This year hand weeding has been focused on the paths of the wildflower walk area, Rattle beaks at Wireless Hill Park opposite the main carpark in the heart of the reserve.

34 $ Financial Report Auditors Report

35 $ Financial Report 2017-18 Financial Overview

SERCUL’s income is derived through three Our direct costs for operational delivery main areas; grant projects, partnership during 2017-18 were a combination of projects and service delivery. delivering on existing commitments which rolled over from the previous financial year - Grant projects funding is usually received (from Grants $269 240 and Partners in advance and there is a requirement $271 127) and delivery on new commitments for a significant in-kind value-adding to made during this financial year. Grant deliver the grant in accordance with the funded projects comprised 14% ($263 182) funding agreement. These grant projects of the direct costs for operational delivery, typically do not provide funding for an partnership projects 39% ($761 612), services officer to coordinate the project. In 20% ($380 925) and the remaining 33% 2017-18 $317 861 (equal to 19% of the ($638 681) corresponded to the operational total income) in grant funding came from costs (expenses) of the organisation. project delivery. Through the overhead costs associated with - Partnership projects are a coordinated the grants, partners and services delivery delivery by multiple organisations and SERCUL managed to bring $477 358 in funds sometimes provide funds for an officer which were used to cover direct costs of to deliver and coordinate the project. The delivery ($361 533) and operational funding is usually received in advance expenses ($115 825). and covers the costs associated with the delivery of the project. Significant in-kind 2017-18 Expenditure value adding is delivered through the coordinated approach and delivery of the project. In 2017-18 $846 269 (50% of the total income) came from partnership projects - Service delivery is undertaken to generate income for the organisation to support the otherwise unfunded outcomes supporting the vision and mission of the association. Services include weeding, spraying, planting, brush cutting, monitoring and Grants Partners Services Operational Costs research, and environmental education. In 2017-18 $529 174 (31% of the total income) A comparison of the 2016-17 and came from the delivery of services. 2017-18 Balance Sheets shows a decrease in SERCUL’s total equity of almost 25% reflecting a decrease of less than 1% of 2017-18 Income SERCUL’s total current assets but an increase of almost 22% in current liabilities due mainly to grants/partners funds received in advance. There was $255 897 of unpaid customer invoices in the 2017-18 income at the end of the financial year. These invoices are expected to be paid in the first quarter of the 2018-19 year.

Grants Partners Services

36 $ Financial Report 2017-18 Financial Overview At the end of the financial year SERCUL had There are several important qualifying points a gross profit of $404 249 but after covering in relation to the 2017-18 loss: the organisation’s expenses recorded a net - Significant accounting mistakes in loss of $223 215. 2016-17 resulted in a prior year adjustment SERCUL has been able to cover the recorded of income of $32 553 recorded twice and losses from 2016-17 and 2017-18 but the a failure to recognise $70 749 as income SERCUL Executive Committee and Managers paid in advance. Had these adjustments are aware that this situation cannot be been properly recorded, the loss for maintained for the short or medium term. 2016-17 would have been $109 533 They have put in place procedures to carefully compared with the $6231 reported loss monitor the current and predicted financial and the 2017-18 loss would have performance and have undertaken a cost been $119 912. reduction exercise while remaining committed - Un-invoiced work in progress totalled to delivering SERCUL’s vision and mission. $36 472 for which costs were incurred up Major changes in our accounting practices to 30 June 2018 for the delivery of grants, and systems during 2017-18 provided partnerships and services projects but the Executive Committee and senior invoices were not raised until after that management with a much clearer, more date when the service was completed or accurate and detailed view of SERCUL payments were scheduled. finances and a solid, reliable foundation for - Insurance of $65 327 was paid in 2017-18 financial decision-making. These include: but most of the expense is for the - changing the Chart of Accounts to better 2018-19 year. identify the sources and type of income - Long Service Leave expense is a net (Grants, Partnerships, Environmental negative amount of $17 842 which Services, and Donations) matching costs corresponds to the adjustment of the of the different areas of services delivered provision for 2018-19 ($87 755), which was (Landcare, Education, Monitoring and less than the initial provision calculated at Research and Community Capacity). 30/06/17 ($113 176) in the Balance Sheet - recording income received differently - due to payments to staff members who funds received in advance for grants and took some long service leave and others partners are now recorded as a liability who left the organisation being incorrectly in the Balance Sheet and only brought to charged to wages accounts. the Profit and Loss according to SERCUL’s budget prediction of estimated costs To limit the risk of a recurrence of the errors during the period the outcomes will that were made in 2016-17, SERCUL now be delivered; works closely with an external accountant and is proposing to change its auditor to a - differentiating in the Profit and Loss the partnership that specialises in the not-for- direct costs related to the delivery of profit sector. SERCUL’s services from those related to the unfunded expenses associated with the organisation’s operations; - changing the accounting software from Reckon (Quick Books) to MYOB; - modifying how the payroll expenses are recorded – whether they are associated with service delivery and/or administration/operational activities; and - changing the way SERCUL recognised overhead costs associated with service delivery.

37 $ Financial Report Balance Sheet

10:24 AM South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare 14/08/18 Balance Sheet Accrual Basis As of June 30, 2018

This Year Last Year $ Difference % Difference

Assets Current Assets Cash on Hand SERCUL Petty Cash $166 $145 $21 14.8% PAP Petty Cash $100 $64 $36 55.9% Total Cash on Hand $266 $209 $57 27.4% Cash at Bank Working Bank $12,785 $128,585 -$115,800 (90.1)% High Int - Social Investment $305,097 $441,228 -$136,131 (30.9)% Public Environmental Fund $1,337 $502 $835 166.5% Total Cash at Bank $319,220 $570,315 -$251,095 (44.0)% Short-Term Investments Term Deposit - 1388 $600,115 $5,000 $595,115 11,902.3% Term Deposit - 0877 $414,960 $875,950 -$460,990 (52.6)% Total Short-Term Investments $1,015,074 $880,950 $134,125 15.2% Other Current Assets Prepaid Project Expenses $36,472 $86,162 -$49,690 (57.7)% Prepaid Insurance/Rego Expense $65,327 $0 $65,327 NA Accounts Receivable $255,897 $168,083 $87,814 52.2% Total Other Current Assets $357,695 $254,244 $103,450 40.7% Total Current Assets $1,692,255 $1,705,718 -$13,463 (0.8)% Non-Current Assets Fixed Assets Computer Equipment $7,520 $38,444 -$30,924 (80.4)% Less: Acc Dep Comp Equipment -$7,518 -$36,372 $28,854 79.3% Office Equipment $7,500 $29,915 -$22,415 (74.9)% Less: Acc Dep - Off Equipment -$7,499 -$28,368 $20,869 73.6% Plant and Equipment $76,460 $154,561 -$78,101 (50.5)% Less: Acc Dep Plant & Equip -$63,251 -$123,287 $60,036 48.7% Motor Vehicles $184,699 $172,419 $12,280 7.1% Less: Acc Dep Motor Vehicles -$146,515 -$144,911 -$1,604 (1.1)% Total Fixed Assets $51,396 $62,401 -$11,005 (17.6)% Total Non-Current Assets $51,396 $62,401 -$11,005 (17.6)% Total Assets $1,743,651 $1,768,118 -$24,467 (1.4)% Liabilities Current Liabilities Trade Payables Credit Card $2,731 $5,279 -$2,547 (48.3)% Trade Creditors $13,507 -$352 $13,859 3,937.5% Accrued Expenses $0 $98,014 -$98,014 (100.0)% Total Trade Payables $16,239 $102,940 -$86,701 (84.2)% Employee Benefits/Provisions Provision for Annual Leave $55,598 $51,109 $4,489 8.8% Prov for Long Service Leave $87,755 $113,176 -$25,421 (22.5)% Prov for LSL - AAEE $5,288 $2,001 $3,288 164.3% Provision for Wages/Salary $24,974 $0 $24,974 NA PAYG Withholdings Payable $15,682 $0 $15,682 NA Allowance Accrued $0 $196 -$196 (100.0)% Superannuation Payable $27,714 $0 $27,714 NA Total Employee Benefits/Provisions $217,012 $166,482 $50,530 30.4%

This report includes Year-End Adjustments.

Page 1 of 2

38 $ Financial Report Balance Sheet

10:24 AM South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare 14/08/18 Balance Sheet Accrual Basis As of June 30, 2018

This Year Last Year $ Difference % Difference

Other Payables Advance payments $3,275 $15,670 -$12,395 (79.1)% Grants Received in Advance $765,708 $540,367 $225,341 41.7% Parental Leave Funds $1,414 $0 $1,414 NA Total Other Payables $770,397 $556,037 $214,360 38.6% Total Current Liabilities $1,003,648 $825,459 $178,189 21.6% GST GST Collected $70,861 $70,047 $814 1.2% GST Paid -$20,417 -$40,161 $19,744 49.2% Total GST $50,444 $29,886 $20,558 68.8% Total Liabilities $1,054,092 $855,345 $198,747 23.2% Net Assets $689,559 $912,773 -$223,214 (24.5)% Equity Retained Surplus/(Accu Loss) $912,773 $919,004 -$6,231 (0.7)% Current Year Earnings -$223,214 -$6,231 -$216,983 (3,482.2)% Total Equity $689,559 $912,773 -$223,214 (24.5)%

*Note: Funds committed for the delivery of projects in 2017–18, recieved in advance from grants and partnerships

This report includes Year-End Adjustments.

Page 2 of 2

39 $ Financial Report Profit and Loss

10:26 AM South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare 14/08/18 Profit & Loss Accrual Basis July 2017 through June 2018

This Year Last Year $ Difference % Difference

Income Grants Income $317,861 $188,616 $129,245 68.5% Partnership Income $832,028 $1,713,356 -$881,327 (51.4)% Service Landcare Delivery $492,974 $1,034,988 -$542,014 (52.4)% Service Education & Promotion $10,815 $62,155 -$51,340 (82.6)% Service Monitoring & Research $25,385 $17,311 $8,074 46.6% Community Capacity $14,240 $0 $14,240 NA Fundraising Income $830 $1,589 -$759 (47.8)% Other $9 $213,241 -$213,232 (100.0)% Vehicle Cost Recovery $0 $58,411 -$58,411 (100.0)% Total Income $1,694,143 $3,289,667 -$1,595,524 (48.5)% Direct Costs Landcare Services Delivery $748,110 $1,859,871 -$1,111,761 (59.8)% Education Delivery $208,219 $167,101 $41,118 24.6% Monitoring & Research Delivery $88,601 $182,328 -$93,726 (51.4)% Community Capacity Delivery $244,963 $467,600 -$222,637 (47.6)% Total Direct Costs $1,289,894 $2,676,899 -$1,387,005 (51.8)% Gross Profit $404,249 $612,768 -$208,518 (34.0)%

Expenses Administration and General $41,074 $119,058 -$77,983 (65.5)% Employee Costs - Indirect $281,906 $176,776 $105,131 59.5% Wages & Salaries - On Costs $220,327 $215,473 $4,853 2.3% Property & Communication Expen $55,905 $77,307 -$21,402 (27.7)% Governance Expenses $29,453 $24,327 $5,126 21.1% Total Expenses $628,664 $612,940 $15,724 2.6% Operating Profit -$224,415 -$173 -$224,242 (129,927.8)%

Other Income Wages Subsidy $0 $7,125 -$7,125 (100.0)% Works Comp Reimbursement $8,437 $0 $8,437 NA Parental Leave Funds $4,170 $0 $4,170 NA Interest Received $29,075 $36,182 -$7,108 (19.6)% Other Reimbursement $1,180 $0 $1,180 NA Gain on Sale - Non-curr. Asset $908 $0 $908 NA Correction of Income -$32,553 $0 -$32,553 NA Total Other Income $11,217 $43,307 -$32,090 (74.1)% Other Expenses Interest Paid $90 $0 $90 NA Loss on Sale of Non-Curr Asset $9,926 $0 $9,926 NA Asset Purchase - Motor Vehicle $0 $13,636 -$13,636 (100.0)% Asset Purchase - Plant & Equip $0 $35,730 -$35,730 (100.0)% Total Other Expenses $10,016 $49,366 -$39,350 (79.7)% Net Profit/(Loss) -$223,214 -$6,231 -$216,983 (3,482.2)%

This report includes Year-End Adjustments.

Page 1 of 1

40 $ Financial Report Statement by the Management Committee

41 2018-19 New Projects

Restoration of Bull Bodkin Park – Creek Catchment A Living Stream for Stage 2 – Enabling Healthier Communities Communities for Project Partners: City of South Perth, Healthier Rivers Water Corporation and SERCUL. Project Overview: This project will in Project Partners: Friends of Bull Creek partnership with the City of South Perth, Catchment, Rossmoyne Senior High School Water Corporation, SERCUL and the local Bushrangers, City of Melville, Conservation community, convert 300 m² of a currently Volunteers Australia and SERCUL. boarded drainage asset at Bodkin Park into Project Overview: This project will a living stream improving both community partner with the City of Melville, Friends amenities and water quality outcomes before of Bull Creek Catchment, Rossmoyne entering the Canning River. Senior High School Bushrangers Unit and Project Objectives: Conservation Volunteers Australia to deliver a • Community consultation and community restoration project. awareness raising Project Objectives: • Minor infrastructure - installation of two • Remove large 3m high blackberry thickets Gross Pollutant Traps (City of South Perth that currently dominate the site across in-kind contribution) one hectare • Earthworks - removing wooden boards • Remove Japanese peppers, Lantana and and battering drainage banks (Water Acacia longifolia across one hectare Corporation in-kind contribution) • Revegetate 65,000 native seedlings • Revegetation - installation of native across one hectare wetland species at 9 per m² and dryland • Host 1-2 community planting species at 3 per m² events per year • Community planting events • Maintain less than 5% weed coverage • Weed control and site maintenance - across one hectare ongoing through the life of the project • Produce two promotional / media until completion and handover to improve releases in relation to the project per year revegetation outcomes. • Support and provide capacity building for Funded By: Swan Canning River Recovery the Friends of Bull Creek Catchment. Program 2.0 through Perth NRM and Water Funded by: Swan Canning River Recovery Corporation. Program 2.0 through Perth NRM.

Blackberry infestation at Bull Creek Bordered drain at Bodkin Park

42 2018-19 New Projects

Amazon Frogbit Management Program Project Partners: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Project Objectives: • Provide on-site consultation with possible development of management plans for land managers for Amazon Frogbit outbreaks • Provide resources to react to infestations immediately when land managers have budget restrictions • Assist or increase treatment frequency of current infestations • Contact/visit aquarium/water garden shops, advise and make aware of the issues with Amazon Frogbit and request that they refrain from selling. Distribute posters and brochures to stores. • Contact local governments/land managers/environment groups and raise awareness of the weed and what they need to do once identified including social media, newsletter updates, presentations at NRM forums • Hold regular meetings to coordinate and keep stakeholders engaged in control efforts • Hold training sessions on Amazon Frogbit and other aquatic weeds using the Aquatic Weed Management Manual • Attend the Perth Garden Festival to promote problems with Amazon Frogbit and other aquatic weeds to general community • Set up and conduct field trial of the effect of salinity levels and wind and waves on Amazon Frogbit • Set up and conduct field trial of seed viability and growth rate of Amazon Frogbit • Research and evaluate risk of Water Poppy and other potential weeds from the aquarium/ water garden trade. Funded by: Swan Canning River Recovery Program 2.0 through Perth NRM.

Left: Amazon Frogbit flower, Right: Dense matting of Frogbit

Bickley Brook WQIP – Lakewook Cove Reserve Restoration Project Partners: Conservation Volunteers, City of Gosnells and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). Project Overview: This project is an extension of the Mandarin Road Urban Waterways Renewal site and in partnership with the City of Gosnells and DBCA, SERCUL will address the infestation of introduced grasses and various woody weeds and the revegetation of 16,446 plants (native wetland and dryland species) across 3059 m² of Lakewook Cove Reserve. This will improve the sites biodiversity, increase natural habitat values and provide water quality outcomes for the Bickley Brook. Funded by: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

43 Acknowledgements

The success of the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare’s project delivery is a direct result of financial and in-kind contributions from the following Australian Government Departments and funding programs, WA State Government Departments and funding programs, Natural Resource Management Organisations, private businesses, Local Governments and community groups. We would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank you for your assistance over the 2017–18 year which has allowed us to achieve the outcomes highlighted in this report.

Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Department of Health

WA Trillion LANDCARE Trees network

C i G ty o IN f CANN

AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (WA CHAPTER)

Friends of Mary Carroll Wetland

WILSON WETLANDS ACTION CRREPA GROUP INC

44 Thank You

Improving the health of our land and waterways is at the forefront of SERCUL’s operations and values. We would like to sincerely thank the local community across the South region for their ongoing support and commitment to helping us achieve our aims this year. We are greatly honoured to work alongside our project partners, industry partners, government agencies, local government, Aboriginal organisations, community groups and volunteers in the delivery of NRM and Landcare in the South region. We share our achievements with this positive and nuturing network. To the many organisations and individuals who have provided support and volunteering for our NRM projects this year, we sincerely thank you. As we commence the 2018-19 financial year, we look forward to continuing to work together to achieve more environmental and community outcomes for the South region, so that it continues to prosper.

1 Horley Road, Beckenham WA 6107 ph: (08) 9458 5664 www.sercul.org.au 45